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Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A. Motor Vehicles § 2255. Accidents involving property damage

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Notification. The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident anywhere that results in property damage shall take reasonable steps to notify the owner of that property of the accident. For the purposes of this section, “property damage” includes damage to real and personal property, including but not limited to the injury or death of a dog, a cat or livestock.

2. Provide information. The operator shall provide to the property owner:

A. The operator's name and address;

B. The registration number of the operator's vehicle;

C. An opportunity to examine the driver's license if the owner of the property so requests and the license is available; and

D. Evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility as required by section 1601 if the owner of the property so requests.

If the accident results in the injury or death of a dog, a cat or livestock, the property owner cannot be located and a report of the accident is not required under section 2251, the operator shall take reasonable steps to immediately report the injury or death to a law enforcement officer or the animal control officer for the municipality or region where the property damage occurred.

3. Violation. A person commits a Class E crime if that person fails to comply with this section, except that a person commits a traffic infraction if that person fails to comply with subsection 2, paragraph D.

4. Dismissal. The clerk of the District Court Violations Bureau or trial court shall dismiss a Violation Summons and Complaint charging a person with a violation of subsection 2, paragraph D if that person:

A. Shows the issuing law enforcement officer satisfactory evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility that was in effect at the time of the alleged violation and the issuing officer notifies the violations bureau of that fact; or

B. Files a timely answer to a Violation Summons and Complaint alleging a violation of subsection 2, paragraph D and that person presents to the court at the time of trial satisfactory evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility that was in effect at the time of the alleged violation.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A. Motor Vehicles § 2255. Accidents involving property damage - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-29-a-motor-vehicles/me-rev-st-tit-29-a-sect-2255/

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